FIRE AT CAMBRIDGE. The Late Major Clare's Residence Burned Down.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 19 September 1882, Page 2

FIRE AT CAMBRIDGE. The Late Major Clare's Residence Burned Down.

Not a little excitement was caused in Cambridge on Saturday last, when it became known that the residence of the late Major Clare had caught fire, and had been burned to the ground. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Messrs C. Smith and L. B. Ewen passed the house. There was then no sign of fire whatever, but on returning a few minutes after they noticed smoke coming through the shingles. Several other people who were passing at the time, whose attention had been drawn to the matter by Mr Smith, entered the grounds with the intention of staying the progress of the fire which by tins time was spreading rapidly. No buckets or other vessels for carrying watei could be found about the place, and on going to the well it was discovered that the rope had been cut, and consequently it was not possible to obtain any supply from that source. The doors were all fastened, but some of those present entered by a window by way of finding out where the fire originated. They^ discovered no trace oi fire whatever inside the house, the flames being solely confined to the root. There being no means at hand to check the fire, the entire building was burned to the ground within a fewminutes. Had there been any water convenient at the time, Messrs Smith and Ewen are positive they could have averted the calamity. Th« house had been unoccupied for two or three months, Mr Hosking having been the last occupant, and the cause of the fire can in no way be accounted for, unless it could have been started by rats and some loose matches. The building, which contained about nine rooms belonged to Mrs Roberts, of Taranaki, and was insured in the New Zealand office for £200, which sum does not nearly cover the damage. Mr Hosking had leased the property for seven years, two and a half of which had only expired, and was in treaty with a gentleman from the South, who is coming to reside in Cambridge with a view to letting it.